The Night Rider

I was very late to the Martin Scorsese party.  I have not seen much of his earlier films, and because of that I was very much looking forward to watching Taxi Driver for the first time.  After viewing this incredible film, I feel as if I just watched one of the greatest films ever made.

Taxi Driver is the story of a Vietnam War veteran who works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City.  Even though it is never actually established that it is New York City, the city is very much a character in the film.  You see what the city is like, particularly at night, and the grim realities that come with it.  This is also a film that is a product of its time.  The way people dress, talk, and even the racial discrimination that is hinted at in the film are all products of the 1970's.  There is one VERY minor detail that I would like to mention.  At one point in the film, a man says that Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) owes him five bucks, and Travis gives it to him.  However, it is never established why Travis owes him this money.  Aside from this throwaway detail, Taxi Driver is definitely one of those "100 Movies To See Before You Die".

Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle.  I love the way Bickle is fascinated with both New York City and with Betsy (played by Cybill Shepherd), and the way in which De Niro conveys this in his facial expressions.  Throughout the film, he is staring at smiling at the wonder and beauty of both Betsy and New York City.  However, the moment where we see Bickle vent to the presidential candidate is a moment where we see his true colors, and that pays off in the end when we see that he has finally had enough of the people in the city.  When Bickle turns down the dark path, he REALLY turns, and De Niro terrifies and frightens you in ways that you never thought were possible.  I also like how Bickles' relationship with Iris (Jodie Foster) is handled.  It is very clear that Bickle sees Iris as the one good thing within the garbage heap of N.Y.C.  De Niro and Foster have great chemistry together, and you can tell just by watching the two of them together that Foster is learning so much from De Niro.  This is one of the most iconic performances of De Niros' career.

Martin Scorsese is the director of Taxi Driver.  As I mentioned before, New York City is very much a character in this film, and Scorsese brings us into that city with stunning grittiness.  I love the way that you actually feel that you are part of this film because of the way it is shot.  There is one particular shot in the film that I would like to talk about, and that is the shot where the camera pans down the hallway while Travis Bickle is attempting to get another date with Betsy.  The context of this shot, which suggests that their relationship is over, is probably my favorite shot in the whole film.  Also, the shootout at the climax of the film is brutally vicious, and also marks the beginning of what would become one of the many trademarks of a Martin Scorsese film.

Taxi Driver is an American classic.  The way this film touches on the unstable human psyche is incredible.  If you have not seen this film, please do so immediately.  Personally, I cannot wait to watch it again.

Scorsese and De Niro With The Knockout!!!

Over the past ten years, I have become a huge fan of director Martin Scorsese.  However, I still have yet to see most of his earlier films.  Up until now Raging Bull fell under that category, and I am so glad I finally watched it.

Raging Bull is the story of boxer Jake LaMotta.  The movie takes us on a journey through his life, and contrasts his success in the ring with his failure outside it.  The movie is heartbreaking and emotional to watch because we see how volatile LaMotta is.  It is his relationship with his brother Joey (played wonderfully by Joe Pesci) that keeps him in line for the most part.  The journey that this film takes you on makes you take a hard look at one man's fall from greatness.  There are a few minor issues that I have with this film.  At times, some of the lip syncing is off which takes me completely out of the movie.  I also would have liked to see more of Jake LaMotta's drinking problems that led to his first divorce.  Also, there is a scene in LaMotta's locker room where his manager is randomly getting stitched up with no explanation of why.  Other than these issues, this movie is a flat-out masterpiece.

Robert De Niro expertly plays Jake LaMotta.  It takes a truly great actor to play a despicable character and make us love him, and that is exactly what De Niro does in this film.  At times, you are actually afraid of him because you never know when he is going to snap.  There is not a single thing to like about LaMotta, and De Niro gives us one of the greatest performances of all time.

Martin Scorsese is the director of Raging Bull.  In typical Scorsese fashion, the camera never shies away from the violence in the movie because it is an essential part of the story.  LaMotta is suspicious and almost downright paranoid of his wife Vickie's (Cathy Moriarty) every move, and the way the camera moves during their scenes together makes you feel the tension between them.  I love the way the camera moves during the boxing scenes.  Every punch, every drop of sweat and blood is beautifully shown.  Martin Scorsese is hailed as one of the greatest directors of our time, and this film is one of the reasons why.

What grinds my gears is when someone claims to be a huge film fan, yet refuses to watch any black and white films.  Some of the greatest movies of all time are in black and white, and Raging Bull is one of them.  I highly recommend this classic to anyone who has not seen it, and if you have then watch it again!